Children’s author Raven Howell joins me today and we’re chatting about her children’s poetry collection, The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes.
Raven is doing a book tour with Wow! Women on Writing – you can check out her other tour stops below.
Bio:
Raven Howell has written several award-winning picture books for children. She also works as an editor, columnist, poet, and publisher advisor. Raven’s poems are featured in magazines including Cricket, Highlights for Children, Humpty Dumpty and Ladybug. She is an advocate of children’s education and literacy, visiting schools and libraries with book presentations.
Please tell us about your current release.
The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes is a poetry collection intended to warm the heart and inspire cheer. A book for all ages, readers can discover the charm in simple moments where kittens nap in boots, mice like reading books, fairy hugs feel good, and January snowflakes taste yummy.
What inspired you to write this chapbook?
In light of today’s stressful social climate, I was inspired to share a magical world of poetry with a book children could journey into to discover wonderment, whimsy, and hopefully encourage some giggles, too.
Excerpt from The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes:
A book can take me by the hand,
Whisk me to another land
Of secret gardens, rabbit holes,
To unicorns and naughty trolls,
Where poems and stories tickle me,
Where I grow wings
That set me free!
From the poem, “Let’s Go!”
What exciting project are you working on next?
I’m thrilled to be signing a 5-book deal to write for preschoolers. The first one, A Pig in a Wig, was my latest writing project in regard to that publishing agreement. Meanwhile, I’m excited about my first counting book, Mattison Mouse Counts, which is scheduled for release May 2023.
When did you first consider yourself a writer/poet?
I’ve always written, ever since I can remember, I was creating poems and stories. As a preschooler (before I knew how to write) my live-in grandmother would jot down my stories and poems and songs for me. I considered myself a writer when I wrote my first song sometime during my elementary school days. The song lyrics were poems. So I considered myself a writer from the start but was paid for writing years later.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like?
Yes, I write full time. It’s fun to “go to work” in your yoga pants or pull your hair back without any fuss during the workday! I write both on the computer and use physical notebooks. Usually, music is softly playing in the background and our family cat, Lilac, keeps a check on me, pawing my leg now and again when she’s hungry or needs attention. I take breaks for nature hikes (I live in the Hudson Valley mountains) to clear my mind or “think” through a project or storyline if needed. I also cook and bake for a family of four here, so that has to be incorporated into my day. I write The Book Bug column for Story Monsters Ink magazine, and have additional writing work with deadlines, so days pass quickly for me, and I usually make myself stop writing around 7 p.m. in the evenings.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I change my desktop computer image/color daily depending on my mood and what I’m setting my writing intention for that day. Even my email heading gets a daily face-lift. If I’m working on several serious articles, my computer backdrop may be a shimmer of professional city buildings and lights in browns and golds. If I know I’m going to be immersed in writing my next fractured fairytale, the pale green dragonfly image works best. Close to Valentine’s Day? I’m choosing hearts, funny kittens, and pink borders.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child and into my early twenties, I wanted to be a rock star – not a lead singer fronting a band, but a songwriter in pop music. I chased my dreams and garnered a few accolades and achievements in the recording industry during the late eighties/early nineties. In the following years, those lyrics/poems morphed into longer stories and books for children.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Reading in general is so important for children. Having access to books and kids’ magazines can be an enchanting escape whether it’s fiction or non-fiction – or poetry! My wish is that a parent or caretaker will share The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes with a young boy or girl, or friend. Poetry hardly has to be considered boring. It has the ability to open your heart, stimulate imagination and make you smile. So, in my own little way I suppose, I’m hoping my book encourages smiles.
Links:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | TikTok | LinkedIn
Purchase a copy of The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your Goodreads reading list.
Blog Tour Calendar
December 26th @ The Muffin
Join us at our WOW! blog today, The Muffin, for the blog tour launch of The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. You can read an interview with the author and have a chance to win a copy of the book for yourself. https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/
December 28th @ Strength 4 Spouses
Join Wendi as she reviews The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. https://strength4spouses.blog/
December 28th @ Reading Girl Reviews
Gina reviews Raven Howell’s book The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. https://www.instagram.com/readinggirlreviews/
December 29th @ The Faerie Review
Visit Lisa as she reviews The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. https://www.thefaeriereview.com
December 30th @ Anthony Avina’s Blog
Join Anthony as he features a guest post by author Raven Howell featuring a beginner’s guide to writing poetry. https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/category/blog-tours/
January 1st @ Page Peeks
Visit Jeanne’s book review column as she reviews The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. https://medium.com/page-peeks
January 2nd @ Mother Daughter Book Club
Join Cindy as she reviews The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. https://motherdaughterbookclub.com/blog/
January 4th @ AJ Kormon’s Blog
Join AJ as she reviews The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. https://www.ajkormon.com/blog
January 6th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy as she shares her insights into Raven Howell’s book The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/
January 8th @ Shoe’s Seeds & Stories
Join Linda as she features a guest post by author Ravne Howell about why we love gnomes so much. https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/
January 10th @ Mother Daughter Book Club
Visit Cindy’s blog again for a guest post by Raven Howell about arts and crafts, making fun gnomes for all ages. https://motherdaughterbookclub.com/blog/
January 12th @ Anthony Avina’s Blog
Visit Anthony’s blog as he reviews The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/category/blog-tours/
January 12th @ The Mommies Reviews
Visit Glenda’s blog today to read her review of The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. You’ll also have a chance to win a book copy too! https://themommiesreviews.com/
January 16th @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona’s blog as she shares author Raven Howell’s insights about the impact on children through author visits to schools or libraries. http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
January 15th @ Shoe’s Seeds & Stories
Linda treats us to her review of The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/
January 17th @ HERE!
January 18th @ Bev A Baird’s Blog
Join Bev as she features a guest post by author Raven Howell about her lifelong journey as a poet and how she made it happen. https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
January 20th @ Bev A Baird’s Blog
Come by Bev’s blog again as she reviews The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. A must-read children’s book you’ll love! https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
January 20th @ Editor 911
Margo treats us to her review of The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. https://editor-911.com/
January 22nd @ World of My Imagination
Nicole shares her thoughts about The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. https://worldofmyimagination.com/
January 23rd @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog and read a guest post by Raven Howell about gnome fashion and how the fairy realm influences fashion today. http://www.astorybookworld.com/
January 25th @ Carole Writes
Visit Carole’s blog for her review of The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. https://carolemertz.com/
January 27th @ Editor 911
Come by Margo’s blog again and read Raven Howell’s guest post featuring yummy treats with a gnome theme. https://editor-911.com/
January 28th @ Lisa’s Reading
Join Lisa as she reviews The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes. You also have the chance to win a copy of the book too! https://lisasreading.com/
January 29th @ Jill Sheets’ Blog
Visit Jill’s blog as she interviews author Raven Howell about her writing journey and her experience as an author. http://jillsheets.blogspot.com/